TMV3 Scheme Auditing Procedures

A ‘Primary’ TMV approved by the Technical Assessment Panel (TAP) on behalf of the BuildCert Advisory Committee will be granted a ‘Licence’ for a period of 5 years. Additional variants and factored brands are licensed for the remaining period of the original licence.

1. Scope of audit tests.

All Primary and factored products shall be audited twice or as appropriate within the ‘Licence’ period (see notes below).

a)      ‘Master’ valve receives the primary certificate.

b)      Primary certificate is issued for 5 years.

c)      All other valves based upon the ‘Master’ valve are limited to the same licence period as the ‘Master’.

d)      All valves master or otherwise undergo ancillary audits – 2no. in 5 years (dependant on remaining master valve license life).

e)      Installation & Maintenance manual assessed for compliance.

f)       Factored valves are to be audited to ensure: -

                           i.            Conformity with master valve.

                         ii.            Complies with the requirements of D 08 criteria.

2. Selection of TMV’s for auditing

Licensee will then be notified of the Schemes intention to audit and points of contact shall be agreed.

Three valves shall be selected from a minimum sample batch size of 30 samples from the manufacturer’s or the factors in-house off the shelf stock.  A representative of the test laboratory, a TAP committee member, or an independent third party approved by the TAP shall select the valves for test.  Test samples selected shall be kept under the possession and control of the person making the selection and packaged and sealed in their presence.  A letter documenting the person(s) making the selection and verifying the chain of custody of the samples must be forwarded to BuildCert for inclusion within the test file.

3. Audit tests

The following tests will constitute the audit of an approved TMV: -

a)      No unauthorised design changes

b)     Continuing WRAS approval (Section 3 of D 08: 1-50-440)

c)      Performance tests from section 7 of D 08 will be undertaken on one valve only (Stage 1), chosen at random from the three selected valves: -

i.                   Overshoot – mixed temperature on starting from ambient

ii.                 Thermal shut-off – hot and cold water shut off

iii.                Temperature stability – pressure reduction test

iv.                Temperature stability – low flow rate test

v.                Mixed water temperature overshoot on operation of the diverter     (where appropriate)

d)      Designation – unique identification

e)             Marking

The number of test runs undertaken for i. to v. above are as specified within D 08 (i.e. 3).   All the tests will be conducted at the highest blend [but lowest flow rate] in combination with the highest pressure rating within the range of designations for which the valve (primary or factored) has approval.

The cost for the audit testing must be negotiated with the TMV3 approved test laboratories

The results of all audit tests along with the audited valve will be submitted to the TAP Committee for verification.

The Scheme shall retain all audited valves. Where the audit on the first valve is successful, the remaining two valves will be released by the Test House for collection by the Licensee.

4. Failure of an audit test

If a valve fails any audit performance test.

a)            The test house will inform the licensee immediately, who will have the option to request one retest at the license holder's expense, within 2 working days of receiving the failure notification.

Or

b)      The manufacture can authorise the test house to undertake limited endurance testing (48 hours) on the failed valve only, to awaken the thermostatic properties of the thermostatic valve, as specified in D 08 clause 6.3.

b)      If the same valve subsequently passes the retest, then the valve will be deemed to comply with D O8 and the results will be submitted to the TAP Committee for approval:

i.                  If the same valve subsequently fails the retest then the test house will inform simultaneously the Licensee and the TAP Committee of the non- conformity, using the standard audit report form;

ii.                Notification of the Department of Health of the Audit failure shall be at the discretion of the TAP.

c)      A period of 4 weeks will then be allowed for a response from the Licensee of his assessment of the valve failure and an expression of intention. If the Licensee does not respond within this time then the TAP will require the two remaining valves held by the test house to undertake the full audit test and at the discretion of the TAP inform the Department of Health of the audit failure.

d)     The Licensee may decide, after consideration, that the failure was an isolated incident in which case he can instruct the test house to undertake the full Audit using the two remaining valves held by the Test House at the license holder's expense (Stage 2).  These valves can at the licensee’s request be woken up by applying procedure 4.b) prior to testing.

e)      Alternatively, the Licensee will provide a written assessment to TAP, which includes a description of the fault, their remedy to overcome it, the timescale to solve the problem and its effect on, and their intentions concerning the existing population of affected products.

If the TAP Committee disagree with the proposals the manufacturer will be notified and given the opportunity to provide an alternative proposal.

f)       If the TAP Committee further rejects the proposal from the manufacturer, then the manufacturer will be informed and the Audit will continue using the two valves already held by the Test House.

g)      If the TAP Committee accepts the proposal (original or final) from the manufacturer, then the manufacturer will be informed and be required to provide a further random sample from new stock. The standard audit tests will then be undertaken.

h)      If the test results from the two additional valves or the re-submitted valve, (where accepted by TAP) satisfy all of the audit requirements then the product will be deemed to comply with D 08. All interested parties shall be informed of the successful audit of the valve previously advised as non-conforming.

i)       Should either of the two additional valves (or the re-submitted valve, where accepted by TAP) fail the audit tests, then the product shall be required to be retested to the full D 08 specification at the license holder's expense.

j)       The manufacturer may chose to withdraw the product, in which case the TAP Committee will be informed immediately.

BuildCert will invoice companies involved with failed audits for time required to deal with the audit failure at the Schemes professional rate. 

5. Notification of Result

a)      Pass: The Licensee will be notified formally that his valve has passed the audit. The Department Of Health will be notified at the same time.

b)      Fail: The Licensee will be notified formally in writing with a ‘Warning Notice’, that his valve has failed the audit and the License suspended, the Department of Health will be notified at the same time.

The Licensee will be requested to acknowledge, in writing his intention:

i.                     To submit his valve for full D 08 testing, or

ii.                   Not to resubmit, in which case, the ‘License’ will be withdrawn immediately.

6. Retesting

The valve will be tested fully to D 08 at the license holders expense; within 2 months of the date of the ‘Warning Notice’ the valve must comply fully with the requirements of D 08.